Once again, faithful to its annual date, the Rally Dakar 2019 will set off on January 7th, 2019 in Peru. This edition introduces important changes compared to previous years. The firstâand most strikingâis that it will take place entirely within Peruvian territory, condensed into ten stages where riders must use every ounce of skill and strategy to reach the final finish line.
In a race of this magnitude, participants can be divided into two clearly distinct groups: the first is the elite front pack, whose maximum ambition is victory. These teams have full professional structures and support, with the objective of winningâor at least securing a top result consistent with their experience and expectations. The second group is the vast majority, whose true achievement lies simply in taking part and making it to the final podium day.
Between January 7th and 17th, both riders and machines will be pushed to the absolute limit across extremely hostile terrain, determined to live up to Dakarâs legendary reputation as a giant-killer.
The numbers speak for themselves: 167 motorcycles and quads, 126 cars and SxS vehicles, and 41 trucks, adding up to a total of 541 riders and co-driversâincluding 17 brave womenâ all ready to fight for their own glory. Ten stages are scheduled to cover nearly 5,000 km, with 70% of the route made up of sand dunes. Nothing comes easy in this race, but that is part of its mystique. And it has now been 40 years since Thierry Sabine launched the first edition in Africa.
Everyone agrees that the real protagonists are the private riders who, through sheer effort, reach the bivouac each dayâthose heroes who keep the adventurous spirit of Dakar alive. But media attention is also fueled by famous names, and we cannot forget Joan Barreda, Oriol Mena, Juan Pedrero, or Laia Sanz, all contenders for victory in the motorcycle category.
In cars, Carlos Sainz, Nani Roma, and Isidre Esteve will face fierce competition from Nasser Al-Attiyah and Monsieur Dakar himself, the great StĂ©phane Peterhansel, winner on 13 occasionsâ6 times on bikes and 7 times in cars.
On the mechanical side, Dakarâs demands are extreme, and in the motorcycle and quad categories, one of the most important elements is the braking system. Sand dunes and harsh terrain mean that discs, pads, and brake pistons are subjected to intense stress from friction and dirt, pushing safe braking performance to the limit.
The NG Brake discs fitted as standard on off-road motorcycles already comply with Dakar regulations, which is why we are proud of our discs and their performance . Good luck to all participants!
